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General rules

General rules for travelling up and down slopes: • Take the slope and angle of the boom into account when moving up or down a slope. • When travelling on a slope with the boom facing uphill ensure that the boom angle does not become too close to vertical. This is to prevent the boom toppling over backwards. • Do not travel across a slope with a load. • Crawler cranes are very dangerous on sloping ground. Direct the driver to boom down before walking a crawler crane up a slope. Once the crane reaches the top the driver must boom up to compensate. Electrical hazards Always maintain a safe distance from powerlines when travelling with the boom raised. The head of a long boom will spring up when the load is released. Make sure there is a safe distance from any electrical conductors (powerlines) or other obstructions before releasing the load. Do not set cranes up close to any energised electrical equipment or powerlines unless the applicable exclusion zone is maintained. To avoid potential contact between the boom and powerlines, equipment should never be stored under or close to powerlines. No lifting should be attempted with the crane boom under powerlines and never closer than the applicable exclusion zone. Work around overhead powerlines is regulated by the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002. Practical guidance on such work is provided in the Code of Practice – Working Near Exposed Live Parts. One of the requirements is that people, vehicles and operating plant (e.g. a crane) maintain an exclusion zone around live overhead powerlines. For low voltage powerlines (less than 1000 volts) and/or low voltage service lines connecting properties to the powerlines along a road, the exclusion zone is generally three metres. Exclusion zone distances for high voltage powerlines (over 1000 volts) vary. If you are unsure of the voltage of the powerlines, the safest option is to assume the exclusion zone to be eight metres. Keep a look out for possible contact with powerlines at all times while operating or travelling the crane. If the crane or its load could come within the exclusion zone during operation, then the crane is located in a ‘safety observer zone’ and a safety observer should be appointed. The safety observer’s role is to keep watch and warn the crane driver and dogger if the crane or its load gets too close to an exclusion zone (the applicable exclusion zone must not be entered). Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (Department of Justice and Attorney-General) Information guide - Guide fordoggers PN10123 Last updated 15 July 2010 - 24 -

Where possible, arrange for electrical equipment or powerlines to be de-energised before commencing work. Always use a 16 mm dry natural fibre rope as a tag line. Some synthetic fibre rope can become conductive in some circumstances. Further information on electrical safety matters can be found on the department’s website: www. worksafe.qld.gov.au or by calling 1300 650 662. Electronic copies of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 and the Code of Practice – Working Near Exposed Live Parts are also available for download from the website. 6. Personal protective equipment Doggers often wear helmets, gloves, eye protection, face masks and respirators, safety vests and steel capped boots to protect them from injury. Where personal protective equipment is provided by your employer, you must use it. Safety helmets Safety helmets with chin straps must be worn wherever there is a risk of objects falling from above and on any work site where the hard hat sign is displayed. Make sure that you wear a helmet that conforms to the Australian Standard. Gloves Gloves protect your hands from: • heat and abrasion • molten metal • sharp edges • chemicals (acids, alkalis, solvents, fats and oils). Eye protection You should wear eye protection that complies with AS 1337 if you are likely to be exposed to: • physical damage caused by flying particles, dust and molten metal • chemical damage caused by toxic liquids, gases, vapours and dusts • radiation damage caused by sunlight, visible light, infrared and laser. Respiratory protection You should wear a face mask or respirator that complies with the Australian Standard if you are likely to be exposed to: • toxic gases and vapours • disease-causing dusts such as silica and asbestos • an oxygen deficiency. Inhalation of some chemical vapours and gases can cause a wide range of unpleasant symptoms including narcosis, headaches and in some cases death. Common dusts such as silica can cause lung disease later in life and is found wherever there is excavation, i.e. building sites, road works, tunnelling and mining. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (Department of Justice and Attorney-General) Information guide - Guide fordoggers PN10123 Last updated 15 July 2010 - 25 -